The Department of Foreign Languages offers courses in languages used among cultures and communities throughout the world. Our experienced instructors, many of them native speakers, are dedicated to our teaching philosophy: focus on the living language in its cultural context. Globalization has brought the world together, and those who know more than one language are at an advantage to those who do not. Knowing a foreign language can give students a competitive professional edge, enrich business and communication skills, aid in academic research, and deepen cultural understanding.
We aim to help language students communicate in their target languages as quickly as possible while gaining insight into the cultures whose language they are learning. Our classes—conveniently scheduled on weekdays, weekends, mornings, afternoons, and evenings—give students opportunities to actively engage in class activities.
- Day courses are offered for three credits and meet twice weekly, usually in the morning or afternoon, for one hour and 20 minutes.
- Evening/Saturday courses are offered for two credits and meet weekly for one hour and 50 minutes.
- Intensive courses are offered for four credits and meet in the evenings or on Saturdays either once or twice weekly, for a total of three hours and 45 minutes of instruction per week.
The New School's language program is structured as a continuum in which different levels of proficiency are offered and students can progress from one level to the next. When students reach a more advanced level of study, many courses focus on a particular field of study or topic, such as sociopolitical studies, art, or popular culture.
Placement at the appropriate level:
- Students who have studied a language in high school or in college can place themselves in the appropriate level by using the following formula: one year of high school foreign language study equals one semester of foreign language study at the college level. For example, a student who has completed one year of high school Spanish should enroll in Spanish 2.
- Students with questions or reason to believe that this formula does not accurately measure their knowledge of a foreign language (for example, it has been several years since they studied the language) should call 212.229.5676 or email foreignlanguages@newschool.edu to set up an appointment to discuss placement with a faculty member.
Florence Leclerc-Dickler, Chair